Toluene can also lead to birth defects, developmental abnormalities, liver and kidney damage. Associated with spontaneous abortions.

Aluminum (aluminium)

Found in used in antiperspirants and antiseptics.

May cause breast cancer. In antiperspirants, aluminium blocks the pores of the skin, preventing toxins from being excreted. These toxins then go to the closest fat reserve: the breasts. Linked to Alzheimer’s.

Do you know of any more silent killers in cosmetics? Drop it in below and I’ll add it to this list.

In the meantime, if you have 8 minutes, this is a great video about how screwed up the cosmetics and personal care products industry is.

The Story of Cosmetics (8-minute video)

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25 Replies to “The Hidden Dangers in Make-up and Skin Care”

it is sad to see that manufacturers are using toxic substance to produce their products and simply ignore the health and well-being of the public. Probably the best way to keep ourselves away from those sickening products is to create our own skin-care products by using natural fruits and vegetables.

Hi Claudia, yes SLS is really, really popular. When I was looking for chemical-free shampoos in one store, the only one I could find that didn’t have SLS was a specialty baby shampoo. It was a tiny bottle and way too pricey!

There are a few alternatives. I’ve had good results from baking soda + vinegar. If you do a search, there are also hard ‘shampoo bars’ that are made from natural ingredients only. They lather very well. Hope that helps!

Thanks so much for this information! I’ve been using cosmetics for years and often wonder what the long term affects will be. I’ve got sensitive skin as it is, so I’ll be even more careful from now on.

I had no idea. Thank you for this. Years ago my mom had a book of how to make your own cosmetics, but it was for a different reason–the depression. When they could afford “store bought” nobody thought to worry about what was in them. Wish I knew what happened to that book. Would be interesting.

Too much is bad just like putting too much make-up on our face. We know that our face is so sensitive that can cause irritation if bad chemicals mix in cosmetics. The post has a great information to all ladies. Just make sure that we know all ingredients mix for our cosmetics. Keep posting for all information!

There are some natural cosmetics out there, some that use no toxic chemicals at all. But these would be smaller brands, mostly selling online (for now, anyway). This can be a bit tough, especially when you need to test the colors on your skin. The good news is some of them also sell “sample starter packs” so you can try many different shades before buying a full-sized product.

Mineral make-up should also be better than the usual type and be easier to find in stores (more big name brands carry mineral make-up these days), but I’ve seen many mineral products that still have a long list of chemical ingredients at the back… I’ve learnt it’s better to check the labels than to take their advertising at face value.

Thanks Samantha. I should probably start using minerals from now on!
I use MAC products and my skin started breaking out so badly since a couple months which makes me feel so conscious. I am trying to follow the turmeric treatment that’s mentioned in the site. I hope that helps 🙂 But once again thanks for your response!!

You could add Talc to the list. It’s used in all types of makeup, and body powders; including
baby powder! It’s closely related to asbestos. ( You know, that stuff in the attics of old houses that they have to wear has-mat suits to remove.) And can cause lung and ovarian tumors, and ovarian cancer!

This is a helpful post for all the girls. Everyone deserves to look beautiful, but everyone also deserve to stay healthy. We should take care of ourselves and protect from the potential dangers of makeup.

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